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Easter Rugby Festival 2026. Day three, final game. Final: Kearsney College vs Hoërskool Zwartkop.
Kearsney College capped off their unbeaten run at the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival with a thrilling 22–19 victory over Hoërskool Zwartkop in Monday’s final, closing three days of high-quality rugby with a contest worthy of the occasion.
The clash brought together two of the festival’s most exciting sides, and it delivered a spectacle of grit, skill, and heart.
First Half: Zwarries Strike Early
Zwartkop wasted no time in making their mark. Loosehead prop Matthew Smith powered over from a rolling maul in the third minute, and flyhalf Tilon Baron added the extras for a 7–0 lead.
Moments later, Baron created space for left-wing Stiaan Botha, who wriggled through tackles and cut inside to score Zwartkop’s second try. Another Baron conversion stretched the Pretoria side’s advantage to 14–0, leaving Kearsney facing their sternest test of the festival.
Kearsney’s response came through their captain Nhlanhla Ndlovu, who drove over from a lineout seven minutes before halftime. Daniel Miskey converted to narrow the gap to 14–7. The hosts nearly struck again on the stroke of halftime, but a forward pass halted a scintillating attack.
Second Half: Kearsney Fight Back
Within minutes of the restart, Ndlovu crossed again after Kearsney’s pack shoved Zwartkop backwards. Miskey’s conversion attempt clipped the upright but bounced over, levelling the scores at 14–14.
The momentum swung further when Ndlovu unselfishly fed Lwandle Mkhize for Kearsney’s third try. Miskey’s kick struck the upright and stayed out, but the hosts had their first lead at 19–14.
Zwartkop, showing immense fighting spirit, pressed hard and came close to scoring from a five-metre lineout, only to spill the ball with the try line beckoning.
With just over 10 minutes remaining, Miskey attempted a drop goal that drifted wide. But moments later, he nailed a monster effort from 45 metres, sending the home crowd into raptures and putting Kearsney 22–14 ahead.
Final Drama
Zwartkop refused to fold. With time up, they launched one last assault from a five-meter lineout. Combining forwards and backs in a desperate surge, Jurie Janse van Rensburg forced his way over to cut the deficit to 22–19.
It was too little, too late. Kearsney held firm to secure victory and complete their festival unbeaten, while Zwartkop left Durban having announced themselves as a formidable force on one of South Africa’s premier schoolboy rugby stages.
Final Score
Kearsney College 22 (7)
- Tries: Nhlanhla Ndlovu (2), Lwandle Mkhize
- Conversions: Daniel Miskey (2)
- Drop goal: Daniel Miskey
Hoërskool Zwartkop 19 (14)
- Tries: Matthew Smith, Stiaan Botha, Jurie Janse van Rensburg
- Conversions: Tilon Baron (2)
Read more exciting school news here: https://schoolsthatrock.co.za/
Photos: Gabrielle Swanepoel
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